Rigmarole: Chapter 4

Summary: She felt foolish, really, for staring so long, but then he wasn't looking away either. It's a college fic but bare with me, I think it could turn out to be really good!

Disclaimer: I'm too new to get clever with this so I'll just say that I own nothing.

Predilection

Inclination, preference toward something

When they arrived at the diner a few blocks from the library, the place was unseasonably slow. Booth waved at an older woman behind the counter and guided Tempe to a seat by the window. They sat in silence for a few moments while she looked over the menu and he looked over her. Her blues eyes sparkled as they read over the words in front of her and she chewed her lip as she pondered her choices. She looked up, catching his stare, and smiled shyly. He opened his mouth to start a conversation when the woman from the counter showed up beside their table, "Evening Seeley! Haven't seen you in a few nights. You doing okay?"

"Sorry Margo," he apologized to the woman, "been a little busy studying and stuff." He made eye contact with Tempe and she wondered if the 'and stuff' meant being with her.

"Shame," she looked into Tempe's direction, noticing her for the first time and smiling. "Oh! You brought a friend! You know I get jealous when you bring your girls here!" She teased lightly. Tempe flinched a little, wanting to defend herself. She was nobody's girl. And, she had to remind herself, she definitely wasn't with Booth.

"You know nobody replaces you, Margo." he flirted back. Then he introduced, "This is my uh.. friend Tempe. Bones, this is Margo! I've been eating here since my very first day on campus, Margo pretty much makes sure I don't starve!" He smiled as the two girls smiled at each other.

"Well what can I get for you two?"

"I'll have a slice of the pie you've got on display there," he pointed towards the pastry display, "And a hamburger. Bones?" He looked over at her and noticed the shy look on her face.

"Just salad, Thank you."

As Margo walked away, she winked at Seeley, silently wishing him good luck.

"She seems fond of you," she pointed out as soon as Margo was out of ear shot.

He laughed at the slight jealousy in her voice, "Yeah, I think I remind her of her son or something. She makes sure I'm taken care of. My pops has a crush on her, I think." They both laughed.

There was a pause in their conversation while Tempe played with her hands. She hesitated and then decided to ask, "she said you bring your girls here?" She was a little embarrassed to ask but her curiosity won out. How many girls did he have? Was he some sort of man-slut who preyed on unsuspecting girls in the library?

He laughed a little, embarrassed as well and began, "I-" but was cut off.

"Tempe!" The pair looked around. She was confused. No one knew her and no one talked to her in public. She finally found the source and rolled her eyes in the direction of her roommate, knowing she was only interested because of the good looking man sitting across from her.

As Amelia, her roommate, approached she exclaimed with fake excitement, "Ohmygosh! What are you doing here? I thought you like.. lived in the library!"

Booth, catching onto Tempe's discomfort and the slight dig from the girl standing in front of them, cut in, "We thought it was time for a break,"

Surprised, Amelia looked between the pair, "No wonder you spend your life in the library, huh Tempe? If I knew I could snag a hottie boyfriend in the library, well.. I'd probably do more homework." She laughed.

"We're not-" Tempe began to defend.

"I'm Amelia, Tempe's roommate," she introduced herself to Seeley and stuck her hand out with a fake smile.

"Seeley," he told her, shaking her hand.

"Well Seeley, I give you major props. Tempe's kind of a Loser. I'm surprised she left her corner in the library. I thought she just didn't like people" Tempe looked down, embarrassed and Booth decided he'd heard enough.

"Well Amelia, it was great to meet you, really, but if you don't mind, we were in the middle of something," he told her firmly. Tempe was shocked at his change in tone. He seemed upset.

"Oh! Of course! I didn't mean to interrupt your date! Have fun guys!"

"It's not a-"

Again she was interrupted, this time by Seeley, "Bye bye," he waved as she walked away, glad she was finally gone. "That's your roommate?" he asked in surprise.

"We don't really get along, if you couldn't tell. It's a mutual disrespect, I think. I'm not cool enough for her and she doesn't have an ounce of individual thought in her head." She told him.

"Based on the 2 seconds she was here, I don't really like her so I'm glad you're nothing like her. She's the loser."

"That's nice of you to say, but she has a point. I don't really have a life. I am very focused on my schooling."

"And I love that about you! Seriously, Bones, I'd rather spend every night in the library with you than a second here with her." The blush took over her face before she could stop it and she just smiled. "Now, about what you asked earlier-"

This time they were interrupted by Margo returning with their food. After the plates were settled and Margo, once again, returned to her spot at the counter, Tempe told Seeley, "Forget I said anything. I don't know why I asked but you don't have to explain anything to me."

"It was a joke, Bones. Margo was teasing me because I've never brought a girl here before even though she always asks. Usually I come in alone and hang out with Margo."

She had been intently inspecting her hands but looked up, "You brought me though."

"Yeah well," he suddenly felt shy.

She smiled at him, grabbed a fry from his plate, and changed the topic. "So, where are you from?"

–

After a small argument over who would settle the bill, in which Booth won when he reminded her that he already told her it would be his treat and told her she could cover next time, they made their way back to the library. Unlike their trip to the diner, their walk back was slow and leisurely. They walked close together, their arms and hands brushing the others as they moved. They didn't talk much, both enjoying the cool and silent night.

Outside the library, they stopped. Seeley reached over, grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She looked down at their linked hands in question and then up into his brown eyes. He was smiling a nervous smile, which she returned and then squeezed his hand back. After a moment, they both released hands and made their way into the library and back to their Friday night. Both not quite so sure what just happened.

A/N: Trash or treasure? Sorry for the slight delay. I had hoped to get it out before now but I had a hard time with this one so please let me know what you think! Also, any ideas for what you'd liked to see in the next chapters? I'd LOVE to hear them! Thank you to everyone who flooded my inbox with Story Alerts, Favorites and Reviews! You're all very awesome! I've had a massive headache for three days now, so apologies for any dumb on my part!